Dr. Wise Attacks Bevin; Says British Government Must Redeem Itself

Declaring that Foreign Secretary Bevin “had blundered about with unbelievable unwisdom in handling the entire Palestine problem,” Dr. Stephen S. Wise, president of the World and American Jewish Congresses, today said that the British Foreign Minister “seems bound to tax the credulity of Americans.” He pointed out that upon a number of occasions Bevin has spoken “with a minimum of courtesy and maximum of disrespect” with regard to the President of the United States and the administration.

“Not President Truman is at fault, but Secretary Bevin,” Dr. Wise said. “Perhaps not alone. There were moments at Paris in August last when it seemed as if he were almost ready to accept partition–a Jewish State and an Arab State in Palestine–but the then Colonial Secretary Hall, who is one of the minor, though not minor in malice, blunderers of the affair, intervened always as against Jews; always for Arabs.”

“There is still one way in which the British Government can redeem itself,” Dr. Wise added: “By ignoring the Bevin speeches and attesting its good faith by moving immediately, through Parliamentary methods, to cancel the White Paper with its deep and grievous injustice to Jews; and after that, to come to understand that the time is come at long last for the establishment of a viable Jewish State in an adequate area of Palestine. Britain dare not longer delay. What a descent from Balfour to Bevin, both men in the same post, Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the British Government. Balfour brought Britain honor. Bevin has brought Britain to shame.”